If only we understood sacrifice

People don't understand Memorial Day. 

Earlier in my ministry, a church member got upset with me because our church wasn't recognizing people who served in the Armed Forces for Memorial Day. I told this person that Memorial Day is a remembrance for those who died in the service of our country. When he continued to push me, I told him since he hadn't died there would be no special recognition for him in our service.

Probably could have handled that better. 

So when my youngest daughter asked to attend our local Memorial Day parade, I saw it as an opportunity. Obviously, we weren't dismissive of the veterans who marched, but it was clear their emphasis on this day was to remember those who sacrificed their very lives. It was important to me that she understand the cost of freedom.

"Therefore, I urge you brethren, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice." Romans 12:1

Sacrifice is supposed to cost us something. The sacrifice of a service member who gave their lives is obvious. But should the sacrifice of a Christian really look so different?

Sacrifices are not forced. We don't give them begrudgingly or tightfisted. We recognize that Jesus made a great sacrifice on our behalf: leaving heaven, enduring temptation and struggle, and ultimately dying on the cross. Truly, being the Savior of the world had an immense cost for Jesus.

So what are you giving? What does your Christianity cost you? Does it cost your comfort and your wants? Is your time your own, rarely available to God because you need it more? Often times, survivors in battle speak of those who sacrificed themselves willingly. Is there any area that you are unwilling to turn give fully to Jesus? 

Why does my church have to change?

Rose refused to give me my lunch.

Our workplace cafeteria was very affordable, and I got the chicken tender meal pretty much every day. During my years there I became friends with one of the cafeteria staff named Rose.

So one fateful day, I asked Rose for my chicken tenders and she said no! Rose pointed out some other items on the menu, and suggested I try the taquitos. In spite of my protest, I walked out with the taquitos, and....

Thanks to Rose, I realized taquitos, jumbo chili dogs, and even the salads were great options for lunch. I occasionally had my chicken strips, but it was clear that change wasn't so bad!

Lunches aren't the only thing that needs to change sometimes. 

We've seen many changes in churches over the years:

• Preachers have traded suits for causal dress
• Hymnals were replaced by screens
• Giving can be done in the plate or on our phone

As a pastor, I have seen the fear that grips people when their church is going through change. When you've invested your family, money, and years into the life of a church, change can feel like an criticism of those investments.

But churches need to be open to change. Not a change in the message of the gospel, but a willingness to adjust the methods. As Paul said, he mirrored peoples' cultures and became:
"...all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel..." (1 Corinthians 9:22-23)

One of the biggest changes my own church has to consider is the possibility of adding a second worship service. I know the concerns that our people have, of losing the identity and intimacy that has defined our church and attracted many unchurched or dechurched people through our doors.

When churches choose to stay as they are, they can never hope for more. Whether the church is already in decline and hoping to hang on, or sending missionaries around the globe, there is always room for change. And when we accept change, we may be surprised to realize how much "flavor" we've been missing out on!

The purpose of church change must be to remain responsive to a changing culture. But while we may change the structure of a worship service, technology, or discipleship methods, we must echo the words of Paul: "I do it all for the sake of the gospel." Let a love for our community always exceed our love for personal comfort.

A Pledge for Every Pastor. A Pledge for Every Christian.

I love to preach.


In my early days of youth ministry, preaching opportunities didn't come very often. So when I got the call one Saturday night that the pastor was sick, I felt great that he felt terrible!

"Do you have a sermon you could use Heath?"
"Absolutely", I lied. 

So it was 8pm on a Saturday night, and I had no sermon. After attempting to work through a couple thoughts, nothing was catching my attention. Thinking back, I'm pretty sure prayer was not a part of this process either.

So I tried the internet. Websites are available that allow you to download someone else's sermon, and I quickly found one that looked promising. I spent a few hours trying to put some personal touches on it, and then preached it the next morning.

It bombed. 
How do I know this? Because it stirred nothing in my own heart.

2 Timothy 4:2
"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season..."

As much as I loved preaching, I wasn't prepared for the opportunity before it came. I hadn't taken my spare time to consider a passage of scripture and to wrestle with it for my next preaching opportunity.

So I made a pledge long before preaching became a regular ministry duty: I will never preach a Saturday night special.

But I see a pledge for the non-preaching church attender as well. I'm currently reading Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp (always trust a man with an epic mustache).

Tripp writes, "If your heart is in functional awe of the glory of God, then there will be no place in your heart for poorly prepared, badly delivered [sermons]." In other words, you can't challenge others to life change that you have failed to embrace yourself. I recall a similar lesson taught with splinters and wood. 

So here is the pledge for every pastor, and for every Christian: Don't live unprepared. I pledge to never ask my congregation to wrestle with a message I have not wrestled with first. And every believer should ensure that the prayers and scripture of corporate worship are not your first of the day.

The Question Churches Need to Ask

Every TV show I enjoy gets cancelled.

Meanwhile, Keeping Up With the Kardashians enters Season 12.

The Pitch is another recent heartbreak. This reality show pitted two advertising companies in a weekly contest to create ad campaigns for a business. I was enamored with the creative process used by these various teams to create an idea for the campaign.

And regardless of the advertising company, they all came back to the same starting point:
"What's the problem being solved?"

Now, I'd like to tweak this question slightly for church life:
"Why should people come to your church?"
(Hint: "Because God says so" is not the answer)

These questions aren't far apart. Both ponder why people should care?

Hebrews 10:24-25 has often been used to guilt people into coming to church, but that's not the writer's meaning:
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together...encouraging one another...as you see the [return of Christ] drawing near."

This passage says people should come to your church for:
1. Community ("let us...one another")
People should not be able to walk in and out of a church without being engaged by someone on a meaningful level.

2. Encouragement ("stir up...encouraging")
The world is not our friend. It encourages us to compromise. We need fellow believers who will take the time to biblically encourage us to produce the fruits of the Spirit.

3. Gospel ("you see the [return of Christ" drawing near")
A church that is not fueled by the approaching return of Jesus Christ is useless. Community and encouragement are great, but they must drive us to reach people whose souls are eternally unprepared.

So as you consider these three areas, I ask again: "Why should people come to your church?" What could you do to strengthen weak areas within your own church? 

Are you willing to be booed?

Jason Heyward is dead to me.

Ok, that might be harsh, but when Heyward left my beloved Cardinals for the C...for the Cu...excuse me a moment

So now with Jason playing for the Cardinal's arch-rival, many wondered what kind of reception he'd receive upon returning to play his old team in St. Louis? Based on the boos, it seems Cardinals fans haven't gotten over Heyward's rejection. 

"And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:11

For those in Jesus Christ, we once played for the other team. We embraced the conduct of the world, but such WERE some of us. We are no longer defined by who we were, but by who Jesus has made us to be. 

So how do you react when the world boos? Sometimes they boo our rejection of their ways. Others boo us as hypocrites for now rejecting what we once were. And even though we know the truth, the hatred of the world can still sting.

The simple truth is this: we cannot attempt to be loved by the world and by God at the same time. To choose Jesus is to reject everything He died to save us from.

So remember, when the world boos, Heaven cheers. Love people, but please God.